My site crashed for a while, well, it wasn’t the hosting but the WordPress element. Probably my fault for not updating as and when I should! Anyway, it is fixed – so I’m back.
Although I say our season is well established, those that know us will be aware that we don’t have a sailing season as the whole year is used, thus enjoying those glorious days outside of the summer period giving in many respects greater satisfaction.
A sail off the mooring on a sunny but chilly winter’s day with the sun playing with the wavelets kicked up by the breeze is just lovely. Then, on our return, the yards Bistro serves tummy warming tasty soups to drive off any chills…
We had a couple of ‘weekends’ out in May before getting down to the antifouling and varnishing of transom, rudder and shearstrakes. The picture above shows me sailing Twitch in the Mersea Quarters on a glorious early May day.
Christobel checking over her superbly executed work… Note the gleaming varnish!
Tide creeping up…
My seventieth birthday was approaching and I had booked for us both to spend nearly two weeks visiting Jersey and Guernsey. Within 36 hours of our return we were away for a few days aboard Whimbrel.
Even in Jersey there was some varnish to look at!
Thinking about a place nice to eat on my birthday, we booked a berth at Shipways Yard in Maldon. For the rest of the time we pottered to West Mersea and Brightlingsea where two friends invited us to a very pleasant evening supper in their lovely home at the eastern end of Brightlingsea – Hurst Green. Thank you again!
Now, with Whimbrel stored with basic foodstuff and other sundries, she is ready for the first of her family visitors. A cousin and my youngest brother are due for a weekend shortly, with an end destination in the Walaton Backwaters. Following that, another comprising my sister and two great shipmates, Hannah and Steve. The Mate returns in between and after for our prolonged gandering.
The weather has been up and down, dry on the whole – in fact too dry for the good of the ground! – with either too little wind or almost too much. On our most recent short cruise, we began by motoring, yes, burning diesel from Maylandsea to Bradwell before a breeze filled in from the east. Ths really got up giving us a romp across to Pyefleet.
Our return thrash from the Mersea Quarters (yesterday). It was chilly-ish out on the water but as we entered Lawling Creek, th heat and sultriness hit.
Roll on for warm and pleasant sailing over the coming months…
To all you other yachting folk alike, whether motor boaters, dinghy sailors or sailing cruisers, I hope you’re all in the groove too.
P.S. I’m still getting my head around this new WordPress system – on my iphone, I couldn’t get into the edit feature. It’ll gel, eventually!